General Motors Has started work on its new Performance And Racing Centre, which will conduct research and development for a range of racing programs, high-performance road cars and - perhaps most interestingly - become the development hub for GM's future electric powertrains.

Located in Pontiac, Michigan, the Performance And Racing Centre will design and build racecars for GM's teams in the Pirelli World Challenge, NHRA drag racing, the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, Global Rallycross and, of course, NASCAR.

Attached to the Centre will be an electric motor laboratory, which will research new electric propulsion technologies for GM's next generation of zero-emission vehicles.

A Gear Centre will also be part of the complex, and will be involved in developing more efficient transmsissions for GM's road cars.

About 400 people are expected to be employed at the Centre when it's completed around this time next year, 100 of which will be existing employees relocating from the current Performance And Racing Centre in Wixom, Michigan.